Take me to the clouds above Nepal

MANILA, Philippines - Kathmandu is a city in Nepal that jostles and jangles — always in a rush, with a populace that seemingly refuses to slow down to stop and think. To many, the mere mention of its name brings images of a vibrant city, an ancient place whose history lives on in the red brick homes that line the crowded streets. But for those fortunate enough to visit the bustling capital of Nepal, the mood of Kathmandu, in all its realness, becomes one of chaos and nostalgia.

Far from what many would consider a predictable location for a magazine cover shoot, the Metro team took young actors Joseph Marco and Empress to Nepal to headline their annual “Celebrity Issue.” Appearing in ABS-CBN’s newest prime-time drama Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala, both Joseph and Empress have individually been featured in past issues of the magazine. This time around, the two take on the role of cover stars in their first-ever Metro cover together.

Depending on where you are, Nepal can be a mix of many things — at one point chaotic, the next tranquil and even sublime. Despite the taxis and motorcycles that drove past us at lightning speed, Joseph and Empress were troupers, walking from one picturesque location to the next. Back-dropped against the centuries-old temples at the Hanuman Dhoka Square where kings were once crowned, throngs of people watched in awe as the pair posed in brightly colored ensembles.

At Swayambunath, 365 steps to the top, and past the gilded Vajra and two lions guarding the entrance, Joseph and Empress made their way to the Swayambhunath Stupa and got a taste of Nepalese religion. Also known as the Monkey Temple, it is considered one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal with an astounding view of the Kathmandu valley.

It is so easy to get caught up in the frantic feel of the city that you forget the tranquility outside of Kathmandu. A two-hour drive out of the capital, the team braved winding, uphill roads to a most picturesque vista at Bhaktapur, where a wave of nostalgia left us awestruck at the sight of homes made entirely out of red bricks and wooden pagodas that greeted us left and right. A place of ramshackle enchantment, it was surreal, to say the least. At the Bhaktapur Durbar Square in front of the Vatsala Temple, possibly the most famous image of Nepal, both Joseph and Empress earned new fans and signed autographs for the young girls and boys eagerly watching as the two worked their magic for the camera.

Capping off the shoot, the young actors reached new heights in their career (literally) as they climbed up the Nyatapola Temple, the highest pagoda of Nepal ever built with such architectural perfection and beauty. Overlooking the Himalayan range, the scene was a reminder of Nepal’s grandeur, just waiting to be discovered.

At first glance, Nepal hits you with a sense of depletion. But upon closer inspection, the bright smiles and endearing faces of the Nepali people leave you with a feeling of rejuvenation, that there is much more than meets the eye in the fragile city at the foothills of the Himalayan range. Photos by Doc Marlon Pecjo and Keren Pascual